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Feet Aching From Standing Too Much? The Best Anti-Fatigue Mats for Your Kitchen, Office and Home

Whether it’s home or at the office, research over the years has proven that being comfortable improves productivity. Thankfully, this had led to the invention of many creative devices aimed at making life more comfortable for us all.

One such example is the anti-fatigue mat, designed to help persons who have to stand for long periods on hard surfaces—which causes aches, pains and discomfort.

These mats were designed to alleviate the associated symptoms.

If you are someone who stands for long periods you’ll likely find an anti-fatigue mat to be useful, especially if you stand long enough for your feet to ache. For example, when you’re in the kitchen preparing food, ironing huge piles of clothes or if spend most of the time working whilst standing.

In this post, we’ll explain the purposes of anti-fatigue mats and how you can benefit from owning one.

We’ll also share our recommendations for the best selections on the market right now, and our top picks from the list as well.

In this article we’re going to look at the following anti-fatigue mats:

What is an Anti-Fatigue Mat?

Anti-Fatigue Mats might look similar to traditional mats found in your home or office. The difference, however, is that they are specifically created to reduce fatigue and discomfort caused by standing for long hours on hard floors.

How Do These Mats Work?

Standing for long periods stresses your joints and muscles, causing them to become constricted. Your heart has to work harder to pump blood to these constricted areas and eventually the body is drained of energy, resulting in fatigue.

Anti-fatigue mats provide a cushion between your feet and the hard floor.

When you stand on them, your muscles must continually adjust to the mat’s flexibility—subtly contracting and expanding. This allows proper blood circulation and easy blood flow to the heart.

The Benefits of an Anti-Fatigue Mat

It purports that prolonged standing can lead to cardiovascular problems, pregnancy-related health outcomes, fatigue, and lower back and leg pain. Anti-fatigue mats aim to prevent and/or relieve these issues.

Anti-fatigue mats can improve productivity in your home or office by enhancing comfort and easing aches and pains – allowing you to move faster and complete tasks more efficiently.

These mats can also reduce stress on the body especially the heart, by promoting constant movement. Furthermore, stress on the joints and muscles are reduced as well, leading to better blood circulation.

An added benefit of having an anti-fatigue mat in your home or workplace is the safety aspect. Tiles and concrete floors can be slippery, but these mats tend to grip on to the soles of your shoe, preventing a fall.

Things to Look for When Choosing an Anti-Fatigue Mat

In order to find the most suitable standing mat for your situation, it’s important to pay keen attention to certain features.

Price

There are many reasonably priced options that can fit your budget, but they may not offer all the bells and whistles of the more expensive mats. However, ‘more expensive’ doesn’t always mean ‘better.’

Size

You’ll need a mat that can comfortably fit either in front of your standing desk or within the required area in your home. Large mats might work well in the kitchen or laundry room, but may not fit in a small workspace.

Features

A good anti-fatigue mat should be water-resistant, slip-resistant and made from high-quality material. Some mats are eco-friendly, and there are others that can even help you burn calories which have ridges and balls you use your feet to play with.

Before buying decide if you want a ‘flat mat’ or one with ridges with extra features.

Warranty

Some standing mats come with lengthy warranties which is usually a good indication that you are buying a quality mat.

Warranties also come in the form of ‘satisfaction guarantees’. Buying a mat which offers a money-back return is a good idea so you can always try it out and see if it works well for you and if not, you can always return it and get your money back.

The Best Anti-Fatigue Mats for Your Home

Now that you know what to look out for when buying a good mat, here are some top picks you can choose from.

This mat is specifically designed for standing desk users. Touted as the ‘not -flat standing desk mat,’ the raised features causes you to subconsciously move your feet or easily switch between sitting and standing which helps to keep you moving and remove pressure from your feet.

It has raised side rails and can be easily positioned using just one foot. Topo comes in grey, black, blue and purple and is made with 100% high-quality polyurethane foam.

It is one of the most expensive options on our list, and can cause tripping if you’re not careful.

However, Topo is, high-quality, ideal for an office setting and comes with a 7-year warranty so it is a good selection for standing desk users.

This Amazon current ‘bestseller’ is available in 6 different colours, and its foam core offers the perfect balance of support and softness for your home or office.

It is made with high-quality materials and is ideal for your home due to the varying size options (small, medium and large).

Unlike the non-flat mat by Topo, this one is flat, and guaranteed to prevent tripping thanks to the incorporation of a super non-slip bottom.

This mat is sleek and modern, and comes with a lifetime warranty upon purchase.

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen this might be the mat for you; many users found it to be a relief from the hard tiles. You can place the Sky mat in front of your stove, oven, fridge, or even in your laundry room.

The product has been known to peel over time, but it comes with a lifetime warranty. It is also eco-friendly and cost-effective, so you’ll be saving money and saving the environment; certainly worth the purchase.

The ActiveMat Rocker comes with a rocker bar to promote active standing. If you have a standing desk, it is a perfect addition for your office; it reduces stress levels and enhances circulation while you work. It also takes pressure off your joints and back.

ActiveMat is durable, has a high-density core and a thick, cushioned base for improved comfort while you stand.

At 28.5 inches wide, the mat offers plenty of space for you to stand on, plus enough support for your feet, knees and hips.

This mat is bulkier than the others on the list and the foot bar doesn’t lock into position as some would like. But it’s cost-effective, allows you to burn calories while you work and complements your standing desk perfectly.

Gorilla Grip is made from durable materials that won’t compress or break down with use. It is ergonomically engineered with high-grade foam to provide you maximum support and eliminate pressure.

If you suffer from sciatica nerve pain, or experience leg and foot fatigue this mat can relieve stress in the knees, back, feet and ankles.

The water-resistant material makes Gorilla Grip ideal for high traffic areas in the home such as the laundry room or kitchen.

This mat can blend seamlessly with your home or office décor as there are 9 colours and 6 sizes to choose from.

Some users have detected a slight odour upon receiving their mats and others have complained about slippage. However, since it is reasonably priced, water-resistant and doesn’t crease easily, it’s a viable selection for your kitchen.

Designed as a kitchen mat, AMCOMFY encourages good posture and helps alleviates stress in pressure points around the body. However, it specifically targets areas in the feet ankles and knees.

This perfectly cushioned mat is made from 100% high-quality material and helps you to comfortably stand for long periods.

AMCOMFY is super strong, durable and has a quick ‘rebound ‘reaction which means it won’t flatten over time like other memory foam mats.

Another unique element is the eye-catching design—a unique flower pattern that will add vintage elegance to your home (there are other designs to choose from too!).

The mat was also made with your safety in mind. It has slip-resistant padding and tapered edges to prevent tripping. It is suitable for all floor types and is 100% recyclable.

This is one of the highest priced mats on our list and has a tendency to crease in some instances. However, if you want a mat that will enhance your kitchen décor this beautiful vintage design is a great pick.

This professionally engineered mat can work well in your home or with your standing desk. Whether it’s doing laundry, washing dishes or working for long hours ComfiLife’s padded foam mat reduces the discomfort in your feet, legs and back.

Designed for easy cleaning and safety, this ergonomic mat has a non-slip bottom and is stain-resistant. It is made from anti-microbial waterproof material and also has a textured surface and bevelled edges so you won’t trip and fall.

Users have found the mat’s surface slippery when used while wearing socks. However, it is stain resistant, easy to clean and non-toxic so if you have pets in your home, this is a good choice to consider.

The TerraMat is built thicker than other standing desk mats on the market and is 100% Phthalate-free. Available in grey, brown and black, these are perfect colours for your office decor.

It is wear-resistance, antibacterial, and shock-absorbent to provide durability and more comfort for your feet and legs.

TerraMat was designed by an engineer and personal trainer who incorporated unique 3D features. It is complete with a full balance bar to work your core, a power wedge to help stretch your calves and a support track for your hip flexors.

The device has acupuncture pressure peaks to stimulate your feet, while your soles are massaged by two massage mounds.

This mat is one of the larger options on our list and comes with a high price tag, but the sleek colours, unique massage mounds, and shock-absorbent feature makes it a great addition to your office.

If you want options then Kangaroo Brands has 7 sizes and 12 colours and patterns to choose from.

This ergonomically engineered mat eliminates pressure and provides superior support. It is made with premium quality foam, which offers high-quality cushioning yet maintains the firmness you need to eliminate tension.

To prevent slippage or tripping, this waterproof mat has a textured top, bevelled edges and a grooved underside surface so it stays in place.

It is latex free, phthalate free and is easy to clean.

These mats tend to slip on hardwood floors and tiles, and some users have detected an odour. However, the mat is easy to clean, very cost-effective and would make a great addition to your kitchen.

The Licloud standing desk is the only one our list that comes with 2 massage gel balls for you to roll, fidget and flex while you work. By leaning on the rubber massage ball, you can use your body weight to alleviate tension and knots in the feet.

The massage balls can also be used to roll away knots and tension in different areas of your back; thighs, arms, shoulders, neck, legs or buttocks.

The teardrop feature massages the soles and arches of your feet while the strategically placed massage points help to engage your muscles and enhance blood flow.

This patent-pending device relieves the pressure from standing all day, allowing you to comfortably stand longer.

The price tag might be high, but unlike the other mats, this product comes with massage gel balls to alleviate knots and tension.

There’s also a money back guarantee and a 7-year warranty with your purchase, so this high-quality mat is a great choice for your office.

This mat is made with thick and supportive ergo-foam core to prevent feet, leg and back pains. Geared at providing relief while you stand for long periods, this premium mat is durable and designed for longevity.

It is safe for your kitchen or office thanks to the non-skid bottom surface and bevelled edges which help to prevent tripping.

The NewLife mat is available in several stylish patterns and colours, and has a stain- resistant surface.

It is not the cheapest mat on our list and it might slip on certain floors. However, you’ll certainly want this stylish mat in your kitchen thanks to the stain-resistant feature, non-slip bottom and beautiful patterns.

Our Anti-fatigue Mat Top Picks

We gave you a list of 10 great options but if you are still struggling to decide, for us, two mats stood out among the rest, one for your home and the other for your office.

Our first pick is Sky Mats Anti Fatigue Mat, which is eco-friendly, safe for your home due to the non-slip bottom, and even comes with a lifetime warranty.

This affordable anti-fatigue mat is sleek and modern and many users found it to be a relief from the hard tiles. It is perfect for high-traffic areas in the home whether it’s your kitchen, or laundry room.

Sky Mats Anti Fatigue Mat offers the perfect balance of softness and support and is made with high-quality materials to last a lifetime. If you really need an anti-fatigue mat for your kitchen, you can’t go wrong with this one!

Another favourite from our list is the Topo by Ergodriven mat — the best anti-fatigue mat to complement your standing desk.

It might be pricey but you get your money’s worth as it is designed with next-generation features. Topo is made from 100% polyurethane foam and comes in grey, purple, blue and black.

It was specifically intended for standing desk users and is built with a cushioned terrain to subconsciously encourage movement. The mats bottom surface is engineered to stay in place while you’re on it, and it can be easily tucked away underneath your desk when not in use.

If you’re serious about getting an anti-fatigue mat for your standing desk, Topo by Ergodriven is your best bet.

Before this article ends, we must remind you to read all product information clearly before purchasing your mat. Make sure it is the correct, size, colour and has all the features you require and is specific to your needs.

Also, it is always best to consult your doctor or physician at any sign of pain or discomfort.

Keep in mind that you won’t experience relief overnight so be patient and realistic with your expectations, but with continued use you’ll start to reap the benefits of your anti-fatigue mat!